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Lincoln City crashed to their first defeat since New Year’s Day as Crawley Town continued their ascent up the League Two table with a 3-1 victory.

The Imps deservedly trailed 1-0 at the break after Jimmy Smith’s close-range strike.

Manager Danny Cowley had to watch the second half from the stands after being dismissed by referee Trevor Kettle after the half-time whistle.

But he initially saw an improved performance, with Matt Green making it 1-1 soon after the break.

However, the Red Devils restored their lead from the penalty spot through Josh Payne following a foul by Scott Wharton. Mark Connolly then added the third to complete a disappointing day for the 702 travelling fans.

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The Imps made the one expected change to the starting line-up, with Harry Anderson coming in for Danny Rowe, who came off injured during the first half of Tuesday’s win over Cheltenham.

City were almost gifted an own goal in the second minute when Tom Pett’s cross from the left skimmed off the head of a home defender and dropped just wide of the post.

But it was Crawley who made the brighter start and Ryan Allsop was called into action for the first time on 10 minutes, palming away a cross-shot from the lively Enzio Boldewijn.

On the 15 minutes, Town were rewarded for their start with the opening goal. Right-back Lewis Young was the architect with a surging run forward and powerful strike which rebounded off post and into the path of Smith, who had a simple tap-in.

Boldewijn should have made it 2-0 on 28 minutes when he volleyed a cross from Karlan Ahearne-Grant over the bar from close range.

The Imps were becoming increasingly frustrated by referee Kettle. That was understandable, although the visitors didn’t do themselves any favours either in a disjointed first-half display.

It should have 2-0 again when, from a Crawley counter-attack, Ahearne-Grant fired weakly at Allsop after being teed up by Boldewijn.

A couple of minutes later, the Imps had their best chance of the half. A terrific run and cross from Anderson saw him find Pett, who found space for a shot which was headed off the line by a diving defender.

After almost five minutes of added time, the first half was finally brought to a close. As the players and officials left the pitch, Cowley was sent to the stands by Kettle as he tried to usher Luke Waterfall away from the officials.

With Cowley watching on from the main stand, the Imps came flying out of the blocks at the start of the second half.

Pett almost made it 1-1 on 50 minutes, hitting the bar after getting on the end of Neal Eardley’s cross.

Crawley responded with Ahearne-Grant firing over from close. The Imps then went down the other end and equalised as Green and Rhead combined yet again.

Following a clearance, Rhead’s flick-on was latched on to by his strike partner, who slotted the ball beyond keeper Glenn Morris with the outside of his right foot.

The Imps continued to dominate before, out of the blue, the Red Devils regained the lead midway through the second half.

Following a long ball forward, Jordan Roberts’ flick found Smith, whose cross saw Boldewijn hauled back by Wharton. Payne sent Allsop the wrong way from the spot to make it 2-1.

It went from bad to worse for City as they fell 3-1 down with 18 minutes to go. It was a poor goal from the Imps’ point of view as Roberts’ free-kick was smashed home from virtually on the line by Connolly.